Managing hazardous materials in New Zealand’s National Petrology Reference collection

Abstract

ABSTRACTNew Zealand’s National Petrology Reference Collection at GNS Science includes samples of radioactive and asbestiform minerals and rocks. The legislative requirements for managing these potentially hazardous samples have recently changed because the Radiation Safety Act, Radiation Safety Regulations and Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations were revised in 2016–2017. Steps have been taken at GNS Science to ensure legislative requirements are met, and procedures put in place to safely store and manage radioactive and asbestiform-bearing samples within the collection. These procedures may have application to other curated geological collections at New Zealand universities and museums involving potentially hazardous materials.